NORTHAMPTON — The Sphere Northampton has been awarded a $50,000 grant to launch the Sphere Westfield Mindshift Business Accelerator, an intensive business development program designed to support low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs in the Westfield community.
The funding was awarded through the Westfield Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
The Sphere Westfield will serve 10 local entrepreneurs directly through an eight-week training program that combines structured business education, individualized coaching, and access to professional services such as financial advising, branding and legal support. In addition, the program will include outreach events and community-based workshops.
With nearly half of Westfield households qualifying as low-income and a downtown core made up of economically disadvantaged census tracts, the city faces unique challenges, but also holds great promise, Megan Allen, co-founder and board chair of The Sphere Northampton, said in a statement.
This program builds on the success of the Blueprint for Business Accelerator series developed by Dee Dice and Kasey Corsello, which has supported over 30 small business owners in past Westfield cohorts.
The program will begin recruitment in late summer/early fall of 2025, with training to launch in November. Interested entrepreneurs and community partners can learn more at spherenorthampton.com.
EASTHAMPTON — bankESB recently promoted Susan Cody to assistant branch manager of its 605 Granby St., South Hadley office.
Cody, of Feeding Hills, has nearly four years of banking experience. She was hired in 2021 as a teller, and was most recently a teller supervisor in the bankESB 85 Broad St., Westfield office. In her new role, she will support daily branch operations, assist in team leadership, and contribute to delivering excellent customer service to the community.
Cody earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and business management from Westfield State University.
FLORENCE — Florence Bank recently presented the 2025 President’s Award to three staff members for exceptional service.
Established in 1995, the President’s Award recognizes outstanding performance, customer service and overall contribution to Florence Bank. Those named are nominated by their colleagues at the bank.
This year’s award recognizes Brennan LaFlamme of Westfield, an IRA specialist in the bank’s main office in Florence; Bill Olejarz of Longmeadow, an information security risk analyst, also in the main office; and Katherine Ravenelle of Southampton, teller operations manager in West Springfield.
LaFlamme has six years of industry experience and has served as a teller supervisor and customer service specialist. Responsible for maintaining all IRA accounts and keeping up to date on regulations, he provides IRA trainings for customers and staff. Currently working toward a degree in cybersecurity at University of Massachusetts Amherst.
With four years in the industry, Olejarz assesses cybersecurity risk to help protect sensitive data and systems, reviews vendor security and works with departments to support compliance and ensure security controls are in place to reduce threats. He holds a master’s degree in cybersecurity management from Bay Path University, a bachelor’s in business administration from Western New England University and an associate degree in computer information systems from Springfield Technical Community College.
Ravenelle has 13 years of banking experience. She manages teller line operations to ensure quality service is provided while adhering to policies, procedures and security. She handles customer transactions, account openings and account servicing and is skilled at customer service as well as adapting to different markets and customer needs, branch operations, fraud prevention and detection.
HADLEY — JPMorgan Chase recently opened its first retail branch in Hadley located at 373 Russell St.
The branch, managed by Michael Tavares, is about 3,000 square feet and features modern, bright designs with comfortable meeting areas and state-of-the-art banking technology.
A dedicated Chase Private Client team will provide premium banking services, personalized attention and access to the expertise and investment capabilities of J.P. Morgan to help families reach their most important goals. Customers may also meet with financial and home lending advisors and business banking relationship managers.
Chase’s expansion in Hadley is part of the bank’s growth in Massachusetts that began in 2018. The bank now has 74 branches open across the state from Lawrence, to Springfield, to New Bedford, and has plans to open 50 more branches over the next two years.
HOLYOKE — Gary Rome Hyundai Has been awarded the Hyundai Board of Excellence Award and named Hyundai Dealer of the Year for 2025, two of the highest distinctions Hyundai Motor America bestows upon its dealerships.
The dealership was formally presented with these awards during a special ceremony on July 10, at Gary Rome Hyundai, 150 Whiting Farms Road in Holyoke.
The Hyundai Board of Excellence Award recognizes a select group of Hyundai dealerships nationwide that demonstrate exceptional performance across customer satisfaction, sales, and overall dealership operations. Achieving this status signals a dedication to delivering an outstanding ownership experience for Hyundai customers.
The Hyundai Dealer of the Year Award is Hyundai Motor America’s highest dealership honor, typically awarded to only one dealership per region each year. This award distinguishes Gary Rome Hyundai as a benchmark in operational excellence, customer service, and brand representation, setting the standard for Hyundai dealerships across the country.